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Monthly Archives: May 2016

Brothers, sisters, cousins, and loved ones – out of your family and friends circle, I bet someone is graduating this year. Along with sitting amongst hundreds to watch that graduate cross the stage and receive their diploma, a gift is usually provided to that graduate as well.

If you are looking for something unique and fun for a graduate, I have a great gift to share. I actually received this similar gift when I graduated from high school from some wonderful people. I still have it and use it today too!

I like to call this gift an “everything toolbox.” It literally has everything you can think of for people going out on their own. Zip ties, silly putty, screwdrivers, batteries…the list goes on and on until the box is full.

When I headed off to college, my box always seemed to have just what I was looking for: extra staples, ziplock bags, and the right-sized nail to hang something. It was always there for me, and still is today! I had to share this amazing box with our cousin that recently graduated high school, and it was so fun to build! Below are photos of the toolbox and things inside. I also included a list if you needed a starting point for yourself:

Must-Haves for the Everything Toolbox:

Hammer

Nails (different sizes)

Screwdrivers

Outlet extender/extension cord

Duct tape

Level

Tape measure

Scissors

Tums

Throat lozenges

Headache/Sinus medicine

Band aids

Toothbrush

Fun markers

Highlighters

Pens/Pencils

Sticky notes

Paper clips

Rubber bands

Tacks

Stapler

Staples

Glue

Note cards (to write to the family)

Stamps

Study candy

Chapstick

Ear plugs (for noisy roommates)

Cards

Silly putty/stress ball

Dice

Rain poncho/umbrella

Batteries

Ziplock bags

Sewing kit

Finger nail kit

The great thing about this box is that you can make it fit whatever budget you have for the graduate, and you can customize it any way you want. So step of the graduate gift box this this year, and have some fun in creating an everything toolbox. I would love to see your creations too! Please share in the comments box below, or tag me on instagram @rockparkscissors! Happy gifting!

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With the hot summer sun approaching, and already here in Texas, it is even more important to take care of your skin.

Growing up, I was always in sun and I still am today. But when I was younger, I really took advantage of my healthy skin. I never wore sunscreen and my skin care regimen was minimal. I washed my face in the morning, after athletics, and before bed.

As I got older, I realized how important it really is to take care of your skin. Being a late follower to protecting my skin, I have some great products I would love to share with you:

#1: Neutrogena Moisturizing Sunscreen . It goes with me everywhere. If I am not wearing makeup, this sunscreen instantly hits my face after it’s washed. Don’t forget to put sunscreen all over your body too! I always make sure to put sunscreen on my arms before I leave the house too.

#2 I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser every time I wash my face. I starting using Cetaphil when I was a teenager, and I haven’t found anything that works better for my skin at this time. I do suggest taking off your eye makeup before using this soap, as Cetaphil will not get it all off.

#3 To take off eye makeup, I actually use Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Oil . I put a dab on a cotton ball, and wipe away. Baby oil is also known for making your under eye more youthful too!

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Italian food is my husband’s favorite kind of food. I typically don’t make it because of high carb and calorie content. However, I recently found a healthier option to Italian food. Chicken parmesan that is baked! It is still lightly fried for the crispy texture, but it is a much lighter option than what you would eat at an Italian restaurant. I usually make whole wheat penne pasta instead of regular spaghetti noodles as well.

I hope you enjoy this version of chicken parmesan as much as my family! My recipe below is from an original recipe of Self Proclaimed Foodie. You can find their recipe here: Perfect Chicken Parmesan

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Serves Four

4 boneless chicken breasts (skinless)

3 cups of penne pasta

salt & pepper

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 egg, beaten

1 cup of bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup olive oil

1 (25 ounce) jar pasta sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use plastic wrap to cover chicken. Use a meat pounder or rolling pin to tenderize meat. Make about a half-inch thick.

Have three bowls on the counter. Add flour to one bowl. Add the beaten egg to another bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, ½ cup of parmesan cheese, along with basil, oregano, salt and pepper into the third bowl.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge chicken in flower, then coat with egg, then cover with the bread crumb mixture. Press coating onto chicken to get as much as possible to stick.

When oil is hot (when you see bubbles coming from the bottom of the pan), add your coated chicken to the pan. Cook each breast about two minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove from the pan and transfer to a baking dish. Cover each breast with some pasta sauce. Make sure to reserve some of the sauce for the pasta on the side. Cook chicken in the oven about 5-10 minutes.

Bon Appetit!

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Some days my sweet tooth calls and it’s time to bake! When I want something easy and quick, these no-bake cookies are always top of the list. I usually always have the ingredients on hand, and they are very scrumptious! Another plus is they make several cookies, so there is always enough to share with your family, friends, and neighbors!

I shared the cookies before I could take a photo of final product. This unfortunately is a theme in our household.

Add the first five ingredients (through the salt) to a 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a rapid boil and let boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth, then stir in the oats.

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With the warmer weather we are having in Texas lately, I am reaching for my black tank top dress in the closet more frequently. The best thing about this black dress is that I can change the look with accessories – jewelry, vests, or even kimonos.

When tailgating comes in the fall for football, I can easily show my spirit with this dress. Or if an outdoor concert comes up, I am quick to choose this dress and dress it up accordingly. It really works for anything when you are feeling creative or when you want your look to be effortless. This dress is also light and comfortable, so you don’t have to worry about sweating as much on those hot summer, or spring, days.